Combined support and catamenial sack.



NG. 654,356. Pmhm July 3|, |900. M. E. STEELE. COMBINED SUPPORT ANDCATMENIAL SACK.'

` (Application tiled Aug. 23 1899.) (un Model.) Y

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a Nrrnn STATES'.

E`Partnerin -rricn armi-IA, rmi STEELE,

or oowDEN, ILLINOIS@ srnrrrcn'iron forming part of Letters Patent ivo.654,856, aat-a 1159 31, 1900. Application tiled August 23, 1899. SerialNo. 728,239. (No model.)

To all when@ it 'i1/tay concern: j

Be it known that I, MARTHA ETTA STEELE, a citizen of the United States,residing at Cowden, in the countyV of Shelby and State of Illinois, haveinvented a new and useful Abdominal Support, of which the following is aspecification.

My invention relates to a novel abdominal support or relief-brace, andhas for its object the production of a device of this character for therelief and comfort of sufferers from various female weaknesses, adaptedto support the abdomen and prevent bearing down or other sensationincidentalto certain female disorders and to the approach of maternityand provided with pads for the reception of vaginal or other dischargesand for the suppression of hernial or other enlargement incident torupture.

To these ends the present invention consists in the combination andarrangement of parts, as will be hereinafter more fully described, shownin the accompanying drawings, and particularly pointed out in theappended claim, it being understood that changes in the form,proportion, size, and minor details may be made within the scope of theappended claim without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any oftheV advantages of the invention.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a bottom plan view of theimproved bandage. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the same. Fig. 3 is asectional View on the line 4 4 ot' Fig. 3.

Referring to the numerals of reference on the drawings, 1 indicates abody-belt preferably composed of side sections 2 and 3,which,

by means of terminal buttons4 and series of buttonholes 5, are designedto be adj ustably connected at the front and back of the wearer to forma support from which the device proper is suspended. Each of thesections is provided at or about the center of its lower edge with adepending loop 6, designed for the reception of sliding straps 7,provided at their opposite ends with buttons 8, by means of which thefront and rear straps 9 and l0, provided, respectively, with series ofbuttonholes 11, are connected with the sliding straps 7. These front andrear straps extend from what l term the front and rear sections 12 and13 of the bandage, the sections being connected by buttons 14 at thelower corners of the 'front section 12, engaging buttonholes 15 in therear section. The latter is con- 55 stricted at its center to permit itto pass bctween the legs of the wearer and to fit snugly under the bodyfor the purpose of presenting pads or sponges 16 and 17 carried by therear section to the vagina and rectum of the wearer. 6o The frontsection is preferably bifurcated and laced, so as `to afforda lateraladjustment therefor to fitA the abdomen, and the4 rear section 18 ispreferably padded or quilted, as illustrated. 6 5

An important feature of my bandage is the provision of transverse steelsor stiffeners 1S and 19 across the lowerend of the front section 12 andacross the upper extremityof the rear section 13. The stiffening devicespre- 7o vent the wrinkling of the garment and compel it to retain at alltimes a uniform position in conformity to the contour of the body. Whereit is desired to provide for the suppression of a rupture, the frontsection is provided with a rupture ball or pad 20.

It will be noted that when it is desired to remove the bandage it issimply necessary to release the buttons 14, thereby disconnecting thesections, after which the release of 8o the buttons 8 and 4 will eectthe entire removal of the bandage. It will also appear that the variousmovements of the body will be accommodated by the straps 7 slidingthrough the loops, which will always be properly positioned by therelative adjustment of the sections of the belt.

What I claimis- In an abdominal support, a bandage, comprising front andrear sections, the front section having its opposite longitudinal edges@overging rearwardly, and said section also being centrally andlongitudinally bifurcated from the front edge thereof,the opposite edgesof the bifurcation being laced, suspendingstraps at the opposite frontcorners of the sections, and a transverse stiffening device located atthe rear end of the section, the rear section having its longitudinaledges converging inwardly in opposite directions Ioo from the oppositefront and rear ends thereof, and provided with a transverse stiftening ydevice at its rear end, suspending-strapsajt my own I have hereto afxedmy signature in its Ilear corners, anda detaohableoonneotion thepresence of two witnesses. v Wit the rear end ofthe front section, and asupport forl detachable conneotionyvith the l i MARTHA ETTA STEELE 5suspending-straps,substantially as shown and YWitnessess:

described. Y y 4 Y', JOHN FRIZZELL,

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as H; H. G. CONRAD.`

